Some might, but i remember from going to the Big Cat Rescue and Reserve in FL some years ago, that some of the bigger cats do like catnip, and some like cinnamon a lot. I seem to remember that cougars tend to like the cinnamon more? But don't quote me.

The stuff in the video is mostly old hat. The most interesting one I heard aout from the animal behaviorists is to paint/draw large eyes on your helmet (around here most of our - rare - mountain lion attacks are on moving mountain bikers), shirt or equipment. Apparently the cats like to attack out of a blind spot. If they see eyes then they figure it may be a waste of energy. This would be much more useful, if it actually works - in the vast majority of cases you are not going to *see* the cougar that attacks you or have any time to scare it off! Might be interesting to market shirts with the eyes ready made on front and back. Not sure if it would work on the other kind of cougars.

I go hiking solo all the time in the mountain-lion-rich area around here. I have never seen one, but assume I have been seen *by* one tons of time. Sometimes I get that feeling I'm being watched - but it is probably just that I have been thinking about being eaten by a mountain lion for the past several minutes when out alone in the middle of the mountains. LOL

Unfortunately I missed the one that apparently was just walking along the road 100 feet from my house last year.

I've considered painting eyes on the back of my black pack. Not sure what would signal "eyes" to a cougar, however. I'm also a little concerned that it might make my gear look less fashionable than it is.

So if I understand spelt, I should be totally cougar-proof with this set-up. I mean if this doesn't say "Cougar keep away", what does? I am so happy for all the expert advice on BPL. It makes me feel safe in the outdoors.